'SNL' skewers Putin

"Saturday Night Live" skewered the U.S. response to the crisis in the Ukraine during its cold open Saturday, with President Barack Obama — portrayed by Jay Pharoah — enlisting actor Liam Neeson to talk to Russian President Vladamir Putin.

"A man like Putin doesn't listen," Neeson said. "He'd rather ride in a motorcycle gang or get photographed shirtless on a horse."

“Mr. Putin, Vladimir, I’ve never met you," Neeson, reprising his role as a hostage negotiator in "Taken," continued. "I don’t have experience in international diplomacy, but what I do have is a very specific set of skills — skills that would make me a nightmare for you. By which I mean I’m an actor in Hollywood with a lot of connections.”